Monthly news, June 2026

2026 Plant Swap and Sale
Thank you to everyone who joined this year’s plant swap and sale. It was, as always, a lovely morning and we hope that your swaps and purchases are doing well. Thanks to your generosity, we raised almost £200, which will go towards FGA projects and events in the village.

2026 Best Kept Front Garden competition
We are currently finalising the judging dates for the annual competition. We anticipate that preliminary area judging will be performed by FGA committee members during mid/late June and the shortlisted gardens will be judged in early July (dates TBC). The Foxton resident with best kept front garden will be awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Cup at the Village Show in September.

Foxton Village Show – Saturday, September 12th 2026
Save the date for the annual village show! More details will be revealed over the coming months including further details of categories. The committee are currently putting together plans for the event.

Additionally if you are a local business or club and would like to advertise in our programme or take a tabletop exhibit space at the show please get in touch! This is a super opportunity to join us on the day or have your advert delivered to more than 500 homes in Foxton when we distribute the show programme in August. Don’t miss this promotional opportunity while supporting the great work of the FGA.

Local clubs can have a table for free. Businesses can participate for a small fee:

  • Tabletop exhibit space: £25
  • Programme adverts: Full Page £30 / Half Page £20 / Quarter Page £15

Complete our contact form with your interest and we’ll get in touch to arrange the details.

Progress Update on the Allotment Improvement Plan
From our Allotments Chair, Rachel Harrison:

May has been difficult weather-wise, a freezing cold start, knocking back sprouting potatoes and then boiling hot, scorching the earth. But still no real rain. As a result, the grass seed sown at the Illingworth Gate has not sprouted… yet. However, there is some other progress to report. Gradual clearance of Plot 4 has continued, mainly pulling out extensive stinging nettle roots and clearing old plastic mulching fabric. All to make room for the installation of the bench beneath our new pergola. The bench will arrive on 29th May and be installed soon thereafter.

A water butt has been sourced together with down pipe and fixings so we can collect water from the pergola roof. As the ground is cleared and levelled this will be installed. We have grass seed and wildflower mixes to spread wherever and whenever the conditions are right. At the beginning of the month we tried out, with success, a method of bracing the deformed water tanks, starting on the worst tank. Now we have a strong and secure vessel with a new lid, (see pictures below) so will do the same for the tank near the Illingworth Gate in due course. Plans for the new 5th tank have been consulted upon, i.e. exactly which spot to place said tank. Recycled blocks have been contributed, upon which to stand the tank (thanks Earl). These now mark the spot at the crossroads of the main paths.

The Tree Surgery contractors have visited again to give an up-to-date quote. It is 10 months since they gave a price and some of the specification has changed due to clearance work over the winter. We have also sought necessary permissions to get the contractors chipping machine across the Rec to the allotments. As soon as the revised quote is received they will be booked so we can meet the requirements of the Grant Application to complete the work within 12 months.